Mechanically actuated stop motion for looms



Sept. 22, 1953 J c CASE 2,652,861

MECHANICALLY ACTUATED STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed Jan. 29, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig.

d; 6 @as? INVENTOR.

Sept. 22, 1953 J c CASE- MECHANICALLY ACTUATED STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed Jan. 29, 1951 3. Sheets-Sheet 2 m& A a me mm Q2 NQ N t J 0 Gase INVENTOR.

I BY 4 I fifimfig Sept. 22, 1953 J 3 CASE MECHANICALLY ACTUATED STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS Filed'Jan. 29, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 J 6 Case INVENTOR.

BY me s Patented Sept. 22, 1953 MECHANICALLY ACTUATED STOP MOTION FOR LOOMS J C Case, Lynn, N. 0. Application January 29, 1951, Serial No. 208,345

Claims.

This invention comprises novel and useful improvements in a mechanically actuated stop motion for looms and more specifically pertains to a device which may be readily applied to conventional forms of looms for automatically stopping the same in response to predetermined variations in the tensions of the warp threads of a device in accordance with the preceding object which shall be directly actuated by either vertical upward or downward movement of the warp pressure bar of a loom.

Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a device in conformity with the above objects, which shall be capable of easy attachment to conventional types of looms.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a device as set forth in the foregoing objects, which shall be positive and certain in its operation for stopping further motion of a loom in response to predetermined variations in the warp pressure bar of a loom.

These, together with various ancillary features and objects of the invention, which will later become apparent as the following description proceeds, are attained by the present invention, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated, by way of example only, in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, partly diagrammatic, illustrating the stop motion device of this invention and indicating diagrammatically the manner in which the same is applied to the essential elements of a loom;

Figure 2 is a front elevational View showing the manner in which the device in Figure 1 is applied to a loom;

Figure 3 is a horizontal View showing in top plan a portion of the device;

Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the portion of the device shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4 but showing the device in its actuated position for stopping the further motion of a loom; and

Figure 6 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 66 of Figure 1 and showing the 2 connecting linkage, by means of which predetermined motion of the warp pressure bar is caused to operate-the trigger release mechanism of the device.

4 Reference is now made more specifically to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, and wherein the improved stop motion mechanism forming the subject of this invention is illustrated, it being understood that this mechanism may be readily applied as an attachment to existing conventional forms of looms with a minimum of labor and difficulty; or may be incorporated as an integral part of the loom in its initial assembly.

In the accompanying drawings, the numeral It is employed to designate generally the supporting framework of any conventional form of loom, the latter however including supporting brackets l2 suitably mounted upon the framework and uponwhich is pivoted, as at M, a pair of bracket arms, one of which is shown in Figure 1 at [6, this aim supporting the customary warp pressure rod l8 having the customary counteri weights 2!] thereon, all of the above constituting conventional structure for various known types of loom.

The loom is further provided with power operating mechanism, not shown, but of any known and conventional design, the application of the power therefrom to the mechanism of the loom being controlled by a clutch, likewise of any known and conventional design, not illustrated, but capable of operation by a clutch lever 22 having a conventional clutch engaging yoke or fork 24, the lever being pivoted as at 26 to a portion 28 of the supporting framework of the loom. This lever is provided with a control handle 36 by means of which the operation of the loom may be manually discontinued, it being understood that resilient means of any desired character are provided for normally maintaining the lever 30 and the associated clutch mechanism in the operative position for conducting the source of power to the loom.

The stop motion mechanism forming the subject of this invention is adapted to be connected with the clutch lever 30 and with the warp pressure bar it! so as to operate the clutchlever in response to predetermined motion of the pressure bar for stopping further operation of the loom.

As will be readily understood, the warp threads 32 of the loom are entrained over the various tension bars carried by the bracket lever i6 and through the agency of the counter-weights 20 have a predetermined tension applied thereto. for any reason, the tension upon the warp threads 32 becomes greater than that which is desired, and for which the counter-weights 20 are set, bracket lever i6 and the pressure bar l8 are pivoted upward about their pivot connections i i, while if the tension upon the warp threads 32 becomes too little, the bracket lever is and the pressure bar l3 tend to drop. The reasons for these variations and the desired predetermined tensions upon the warp threads are well known to those skilled in the art and a further explanation of the same appears to be unnecessary, it being merely essential for the purpose of this invention that the resultant pivotal or oscillatory movement of the lever it about the pins M and consequently the oscillatory movement of the pressure bar it shall be utilized to effect operation of the stop motion mechanism when such oscillatory movement has exceeded a predetermined maximum.

The stop motion device of this invention includes an actuator mechanism which is indicated generally by the numeral 34 and which includes a latch mechanism indicated generally at 35 in conjunction with a trigger mechanism indicated generally at 3% and a connecting means indicated generally at 50, the latter being operatively connected with the warp pressure bar it as set forth hereinafter.

Attention is now directed more specifically to Figures 3-5 for an understanding of the construction and operation of the actuating mechanism 3- 2,. This mechanism preferably consists of a unitary assembly having a base member :32 which, as illustrated in Figure 1, may conveniently comprise an angle iron member which is adapted to be secured as by bolts, welding or any other desired manner to one of the frame members of the supporting framework ll! of the loom at any convenient position thereon. Rigidly mounted upon and arising from the base member 132 are a pair of standards M and 45 which are provided with horizontally aligned bores for sealing a plurality of shafts and rods as now set forth. Extending through one pair of horizontally aligned bores is an actuator shaft 48, the ends of which normally extend beyond the standards it and 46, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

At one end, the shaft 48 is provided with a U-shaped portion or bracket which constitutes an actuating bracket adapted to loosely receive and embrace the handle 38 of the clutch power conrol lever 22 in the manner shown in Figure 1.

A compression spring 52 encircles the actuator shaft 48 and terminally abuts against the inside surface of the standard 46 and against a spring retaining collar 54 detachably secured. to the actuator shaft 48, as by a diametrically disposed retaining pin 84 Thus, the spring constitutes a resilient means which normally urges the actuator shaft 58 towards the left as viewed in Figures 1, 3-5 and thus tends to impart a motion to the handle as of the clutch lever 22 which will disengage the clutch and thus disconnect the source of power from the operating mechanism of the loom.

Consequently, whenever the spring 52 is free to act, the actuator shaft 48 will be axially moved towards the left or away from the handle 30 of the power control of the loom to thereby cause cessation of motion of the loom.

The latch means 36, previously mentioned,

serves to block or prevent this axial movement of the actuator shaft 48, and while the latch is thus engaged, the actuator shaft is prevented from causing stopping of motion of the loom.

The latch mechanism comprises a latch plate or bar 55 which is pivotally mounted, as by a pivot pin 58 at one end, between a pair of upstanding fulcrum plates as which are rigidly secured and upwardly standing from one end of the angle iron base member 32.

The latch plate 55 extends from its fulcrum end 58 inwardly towards and into closely adjacent proximity to the vertical standard a l. Upon what may be termed its inward end, the latch plate 56 is provided with a plurality of laterally extending lugs, as indicated at 62, as and E36. These lugs may be applied to the plate as in any desired manner, or may be formed as integral lateral enlargements thereof if desired. The lug GE constitutes a stop or abutment for engaging the adjacent extremity of the actuator shaft 5-8 when the latch member is in the position shown in Figure l. However, when the latch member is pivoted upwardly about its pivot pin 58, as shown in Figure 5, the lug as will be withdrawn from its locking engagement with the end of the actuator shaft it, whereby the spring 52 of the shaft is free to cause axial movement of the actuator shaft and thus cause disengagement of the source of power from the mechanism of the loom.

The lugs 62 and 6d constitute means whereby vertical upwardly pivoting movement is imparted to the latch plate at to cause disengagement of the lug 66 with the end of the actuator shaft.

For that purpose, each of the lugs 52 and is provided with an inclined cam surface 53 and '59, respectively, which are adapted to be engaged by the ends of latch actuator bars or shafts l2 and M, respectively.

The actuator bar shafts are preferably disposed in parallel relation to the actuator shaft s8 and in the same vertical plane as that shaft, and extend through horizontal pairs of bores in the standards M and 56. Each of the latch actuator shafts is provided with a compression spring is together with a spring retainer l3 and spring retainer pins Bil, which are of similar construction as the corresponding elements of the actuator shaft d8.

Consequently, when the spring it of either of the latch actuator shafts E2 and M is free to move the shafts axially, either of these shafts will engage one of the cam surfaces 58 or ill and cause vertical pivoting movement of the latch plate 56 and thus permit the actuator shaft 48 to shut ofi' operation of the loom. However, the trigger mechanism 38 is provided to prevent the actuator shafts l2 and M from releasing the latch mechanism.

The trigger mechanism comprises a pair of trigger plates 82 and 8 which are slidably received in transversely, horizontally extending grooves 35 and 8B which are provided in the outer surface of the standard M, a cover plate being provided to cover these grooves and slidingly retain the trigger plates 82 and 84 therein. This cover plate may be secured in any desired manner, as screws or the like, and is of course apertured or perforated to permit sliding movement of the shafts d8, #2 and M therethrough as disclosed in Figures 1 and 5.

As so far described, it is to be understood that the latch actuator shafts l2 and M are manually pressed inwardly against the resistance of their springs 16 until their outer ends are clear of the grooves 86 and 88, whereupon the trigger plates 82 and 84 are manually slid inwardly of their grooves to block movement of the latch actuator shafts I2 and 74. At this time the actuator shaft 48 is likewise moved inwardly and the latch plate 50 is then dropped downwardly into the position shown in Figure 4, at which time the member 05 will engage the actuator shaft 48 and prevent movement of the same. This is the cocked or set position of the device which permits operation of the loom until one or both of the trigger plates 02 and 84 are pulled, and thereby permitting the latch actuating shafts to move the latch into its unlatching position.

As shown in Figure 6, each of the latch trigger plates 02 and 04 may be provided with elongated slots 02 and 94, which receive retaining pins 90 and 98 mounted upon any suitable portion of the supporting framework of the loom. These pins permit sliding movement of the trigger plates to perform their trigger action, but prevent complete displacement of the trigger plates from the trigger mechanism.

The trigger actuating mechanism or the connecting means 40 will be more readily understood from an examination of Figures 1 and 6. There is suitably journaled upon any convenient portion of the supporting framework of the loom, a pair of parallel, vertically spaced rock shafts 100 and I02 which preferably extend across the full length of the loom and across the various weaving heads of the same as shown in Figure 2. The inner of the rocker shafts is provided with integral upstanding lever arm I04, while the lower of the rocker shafts is provided with a similar depending rocker arm I00. Conveniently, although not necessarily, the arms I04 and I05 are in vertical alignment with each other as shown in Figure 2. The, opposite extremities of the rocker arms I04 and I00 are provided with ring fasteners I00 or any other suitable connectors, by means of which these arms may be operatively connected with the trigger plates 02 and 84.

Conveniently, a pair of cable members I I0 and II2 may connect the two arms I04 and I06 with one of the trigger plates, such as that at 32, and a pair of similar cable members H4 and H6 may connect the other trigger plate with the connecting members I00.

As shown in Figure 1 and in Figure 6, it will thus be readily apparent that if either of the rocker shafts I00 and I02 is oscillated from the normal rest position of the same shown in Figures 1 and 6, both of the trigger plates will be withdrawn from their engagement with the latch actuator shafts I2 and I4, thereby permitting operation of the actuator member 34 and the stopping of the loom thereby.

It will be apparent that various equivalent connecting means may be substituted for the connecting means 40 which is illustrated in the drawings, without departing from the principles of this invention.

It is to be understood that a conventional loom has a plurality of weaving heads across the length of the same, whereby as shown in Figure 2, a plurality of separate weaving operations are performed in unison by the loom. In such an assembly, each of the weaving heads is provided with its own warp pressure bar I8, these bars being substantially aligned with each other across the length of the loom. Each of the rocker shafts I00 and I02 which extends across the length of the loom is provided with a crank arm adapted to 'beoperatively connected with the pressure 'bar of that weaving head. Thus, the rocker shaft I00 is provided with a plurality of actuating crank arms II8, extending horizontally from the rocker shaft, one such arm being provided for each of the weaving heads, while the second rocker shaft I02 is provided with similar actuating arms I20 which are similarly disposed.

Pivotally secured to the extremities of the arms I I 8 and I 20 are connecting links which are operatively associated with the pressure bars I8 whereby vertical pivoting movement of the pressure bars will cause movement of the actuator arms H8 and I 20 and through the same will operate the trigger mechanism as set forth hereinbefore.

The connecting links comprise link members I22 having hooks I24 by means of which the arms N8 of the rocker shaft I00 are connected to the pressure bars 58 so that upon vertical downward movement of the pressure bars, a rocking or oscillatory motion will be imparted to the rocker shaft I00 and through this shaft and the above mentioned connecting means will operate the trigger mechanism of the device. Similarly, the arms I 20 have depending links I 26 terminating in U-shaped yoke portions I28 which straddle and rest upon the pressure bars II8, whereby upon upward movement of the pressure bars, the second rocker shaft I02 with its associated linkage will be operated to release the trigger mechanism.

Thus, one'of the rocker shafts I00 is responsive to downward movement of the pressure bar resulting from a lessening of the tension of the warp threads to operate the stop motion mechanism; while the other rocker shaft I02 is responsive solely to upward movement of the pressure bar resulting from an increase in tension of the warp threads to operate the mechanism.

It will readily be seen that although there are only one arm I04 and one arm I06 for the rocker shafts I00 and I02, yet there are a plurality of arms H8 and I20, one pair of such arms being provided for each of the weaving heads of the loom, so that a defect in the weave in any one of the weaving heads will be sufficient to stop motion of the entire loom.

It is evident that the device is readily applicable to various forms of looms since the actuator mechanism 34 may be conveniently mounted upon the frame members of the loom in such a position as to automatically operate the control handle 30 to stop the loom upon detrimental variations in the tensions of the warp threads thereof. Further, the operator may manually cause stopping of the motion of the loom by manually operating the control lever 30, by manually moving one of the arms H0, I20, I04 or I06 from various convenient locations along the loom.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. llowever, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A stop motion for looms of the type having a supporting frame, a power control handle and a warp pressure bar, comprising an actuator operatively connected to said handle, resilient means urging said actuator for moving said lever into power cut-off position, a trigger mechanism preventing movement of said actuator, connecting means operatively connecting said trigger mechanism to said warp pressure bar for release of said trigger mechanism upon predetermined movement of said warp pressure bar.

The combination of claim 1 wherein said connecting means includes a pair of rock shafts, tension means connecting a first rock shaft with said pressure bar for oscillating said first rock shaft upon movement of said pressure bar in one direction and a compression m ans connecting the second rock shaft with said pressure bar for oscillatin said second rock shaft upon movement of said pressure bar in another direction.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said actuator comprises an actuator shaft mounted for axial movement and having a connection at one end for operative engagement with said handle, said resilient means urging said shaft axially, a latch movable into position blocking axial movement or" said shaft by said resilient means, said trigger mechanism being operatively connected to said latch for moving the latter from its shaft blocking position.

l. The combination of claim 3 wherein said latch has a cam actuating surface, a latch actuator bar mounted for axial movement into engagement with said cam surface, resilient means urging said latch actuator bar towards said cam surface, a plate blocking movement of said latch actuator bar, said connecting means engaging said plate for withdrawing the latter from said latch actuator bar upon said movement of said pressure bar.

5. A loom stop motion for causing stopping of a loom of the type having a loom control member upon predetermined variation in the tension of the loom warp threads, comprising an actuator shaft mounted for axial movement, means connecting said shaft to said control member, resilient means urgin said shaft and said control member into loom stopping position, a latch having a stop surface blocking movement of said shaft, means Withdrawing said latch from its blocking position in response to predetermined variation in the tension of the Warp threads.

J C CASE.

Name Date Matweeff Nov. 9, 1948 Number 

